Eclipse Bar kicks off big band series with Mitch Valdez

MANILA, Philippines – Solaire’s Eclipse Bar kicked off its big band night series with Mel Villena’s AMP Orchestra featuring veteran singer and comedienne Mitch Valdez last July 20.

At this time when producing a live concert with a 10-piece big band orchestra has become a rarity due to high-budget costs, the Eclipse Bar at the Solaire has started a season generously pumping funds to draw audiences once a mont and on a midweek.

During the launch, theater stalwart and Solaire’s entertainment director Audie Gemora said, “Mitch with Mel’s AMP band was a great idea to start the series and in the coming months, you’ll see Becca Godinez, Bituin Escalante and many more. It will be an exciting season and we hope the habit of coming to Eclipse will grow even bigger in the months to come.”

For her part, Mitch said, “The ultimate dream of every singer I suppose is to sing with a complete big band. The sound hits you in the solar plexus and lifts you up so that the emotional content of the song you’re singing is intensified and the music wraps itself around you.”

“The first time I heard it, I almost forgot to sing. I was mesmerized. To sing with Mel is double the fun because he loves the horns as much as I do. The sound is so astig. Plus, we’ve been working together since the TV show Champoy in the early ’80s so it fits like a glove.” 

Mitch sang show tunes, ’70s hits and did stand-uppers that sent the audience into stitches.